Ashokan inscriptions in Afghanistan are written in which one of the following scripts?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF Paper - I: Official Paper (Held on: 7 Aug 2022)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Greek-Aramaic

Key Points

Ashoka inscriptions were mostly written in Brahmi script.
The northwestern Inscriptions were written in Kharosthi Script.
Bilingual (Greek and Aramaic) inscriptions by king Ashoka preserved at Kabul Museum in Kandahar (Shar-i-kuna). (3rd century BCE).Hence option 4 is correct.
Both these scripts were deciphered by James Princep.

Additional Information

The Sharada Script used in Kashmir is an abugida writing system of the Brahmic family of scripts.
The script was widespread between the 8th and 12th centuries in Kashmir, for writing Sanskrit and Kashmiri.

Ashoka:

Ashoka is referred to as Buddhsakya in Maski Inscription and Dharmakosa in his Sarnath Inscription.
He was known as Devampiya i.e. beloved of Goda, and as Piyadassi i.e. of pleasing appearance.
Ashoka believed in the policy of Dhamma.
Ashoka's visit to Lumbini and the exemption of Lumbini from the tax were mentioned in Rumminidei Pillar's Inscription.
The Kandhar Inscription speaks about the success of his policy with the hunters and fishermen.
Nigalisagar Pillar Inscription: It mentions that Ashoka increased the height of the stupa of Buddha Konakamana to double size.